Extraction of non-polar isothiocyanates from plants

• US 6,824,796 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2002
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pusateri, Donald J., Lowry, Alex N., Kizer, Tamara R.
• Primary Examiner(s): TATE, CHRISTOPHER ROBIN
• Application Number:
  US10/176,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20030235634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 424/725, 424/755
• US Class Current: 424/755
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 36/286 Carthamus (distaff thistle)
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 36/31 Brassicaceae or Cruciferae (Mustard family), e.g. broccoli, cabbage or kohlrabi
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 36/52 Juglandaceae (Walnut family)
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 36/87 Vitaceae or Ampelidaceae (Vine or Grape family), e.g. wine grapes, muscadine or peppervine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 36/899 Poaceae or Gramineae (Grass family), e.g. bamboo, corn or sugar cane
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 331/24 the carbon skeleton containing six-membered aromatic rings

Abstract

A method of extracting non-polar isothiocyanates from a plant includes providing fresh or dehydrated plant material that contains at least one glucosinolate that will form a corresponding non-polar isothiocyanate, and endogenous myrosinase enzyme. Water is added to the plant material and milled, and oil is added thereafter to the water and plant mixture. This mixture is then homogenized after which the oil phase is separated from water phase and solids, such that the non-polar isothiocyanate(s) partition into the oil phase. A stable composition made according to the method includes at least one non-polar isothiocyanate and a vegetable oil. A dietary supplement may be formulated from the stable composition.

Claims

1. A method of extracting a non-polar isothiocyanate from a plant, comprising:

a. providing at least one plant material that contains at least one glucosinolate and a myrosinase enzyme, wherein the at least one glucosinolate will form a corresponding non-polar isothiocyanate;

b. adding water to the plant material;

c. homogenizing the plant material and water to form a plant material and water homogenate;

d. adding a vegetable oil to the plant material and water homogenate to form a mixture;

e. blending the mixture; and

f. separating an oil phase and a water phase such that at least one non-polar isothiocyanate partitions into the oil phase.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises adding an exogenous myrosinase enzyme.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising heating the oil.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the heating is at a temperature in a range of about 40°

C. to about 120°

C.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the plant material is fresh.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) further comprises dehydrating the plant material.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the plant material, water, and vegetable oil have a ratio of about 1:

50;

30, respectively.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the plant material comprises a brassica plant.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of watercress, garden cress, nasturtium, wasabi, horseradish, and mixtures thereof.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the vegetable oil is selected from the group consisting of safflower oil, corn oil, olive oil, walnut oil, sesame oil, hazelnut oil, canola oil, grapeseed oil, rice oil, avocado oil, and mixtures thereof.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising fortifying the vegetable oil with an oil soluble antioxidant.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the antioxidant is selected from the group consisting of mixed tocopherols and an individual constituent of the mixed tocopherols.

13. A method of extracting a non-polar isothiocyanate from a plant, comprising:

a. providing at least one plant material that contains at least one glucosinolate and a myrosinase enzyme, wherein the at least one glucosinolate will form corresponding non-polar isothiocyanate;

b. adding water to the plant material;

c. homogenizing the plant material and water to form a plant material and water homogenate;

d. adding a vegetable oil to the plant material and water homogenate to form a mixture; and

,

e. separating an oil phase and a water phase such that at least one non-polar isothiocyanate partitions into the oil phase.